Climate Communications in the Age of AI: How Can We Put Renewables at the Center of Energy Demand Growth?

​The expansion of energy-intensive industries, including AI data centers and semiconductor clusters, is raising a fundamental question: how will growing electricity demand be met? This growth is fueling an increasingly prominent narrative that more gas and coal generation is necessary. Yet it could also create momentum for renewable energy expansion, grid investment, and greater power system flexibility. As industrial growth and reliable electricity supply dominate the debate, climate civil society across the world needs to understand how these narratives are evolving and identify where a shared communications response can make a difference.

​This session brings together climate civil society representatives to examine the changing narratives around electricity demand and supply, and the communications challenges ahead. Speakers will share their perspectives on developments in their countries and shifts in media coverage and public debate. They will discuss which audiences to prioritize, how to frame their messages, and how to respond through media engagement and campaigns. Organizations that have already undertaken relevant work will also share their experiences and lessons learned.

​The Korean presentations will examine changes in the media landscape surrounding the AI and data center boom, with a focus on South Korea's 3 Mega-projects and the opportunities and risks they present for climate communications. They will also explore efforts to use data and evidence to make the case for renewable energy in debates over large-scale electricity demand. By comparing their concerns and approaches, participating CSOs will identify insights relevant to their own contexts, build connections, and explore opportunities for future cross-border collaboration.